09/11/2025
Tai Chi Chuan for health.
Taijiquan is like food which you take every day. It helps build up a better flow of energy (qi) in your body. Energy flows better when Taijiquan is practiced regularly and correctly. Qi flows better if we can relax our muscles. So Taijiquan is a training to relax our muscles to enable Qi to flow better. Once energy flows better, blood flows better and nourishment reaches the cells of parts of the body that has been weak to strengthen the cells. When the cells recover from the weakness, the system/s weakened by the weakness of the weak cells before, starts to function better As a result that system starts to function as they are built to be. That's why many a problem slowly disappears after a period of correct practice.
Weakness of a system does not mean the cells of the whole system is weak. It may be the cells of a tiny section of that particular system is weak and that may have caused the system to start to malfunction, that leads to our health problems. So, we have to sort out the weak cells first before the whole system start to function properly again. It's like a car with a weakness leads to the car not working properly. It's like when our circulatory system is not working properly we feel the weakness in our body, but our digestive system may still be strong. But if the circulatory problem is not sorted out, it's going to affect other systems later on.
But do not take Taijiquan as medication. It is not immediate eradication of a problem, it is a slow nourishment of the cells to bring them back to health. Also, we must not abuse ourselves in whatever we do; like indulging in taking too much of a single type of good food/drug too often; taking alcohol too much or too strong too often. And remember, not all problems can be helped by Taijiquan. So, people have to refer to their doctor when they have health problems. Taijiquan helps to strengthen systems slowly, like taking proper food every day builds our body without you knowing it; when you are a kid, you don't realise how much you have grown until you check yourself on a weighing machine, height measurement, mirror, or when others see you after some time of absence. One day your realised that 'oh, that problem has disappeared!!!'
For people who have no health issues it is best to practice to maintain our own health especially our immune system. It helps us not only in our health but in many areas of our everyday life as well. Those who really study and train in it for some time will be able to tell. Some can see/feel the benefit after training for a short while while some take longer to feel the benefits.
Much depends on diligence and patience and in return you will harvest the benefits.
While Taijiquan is beneficial for health it is one of the best forms of self defence which will be discussed in later chapters .
This is my personal thoughts after more than 53 years of practicing Taijiquan and more than 43 years of teaching the art. But I have to make it clear that I am not a doctor. It's just my unqualified point of view.
Please refer to your doctor for health problems.
Please correct me or add whatever you think may be right or wrong, your personal experiences, any references, etc. They are important for the better understanding and improvement of Taijiquan, thus helping to bring health and happiness to peoples everywhere, regardless of race or culture, or religion.
More explanation on my web page; clstaichichuan.co.uk.
Next: Taijiquan is education.
